The reduced bag limit that was in effect from July through mid-September, combined with anglers targeting salmon and tuna, slowed the catch of black rockfish such that enough quota remains to increase the bag limit for the remainder of the year. News release 9/18

The 2019 bag limits for lingcod, cabezon, the flatfish fishery, and the offshore longleader fishery are the same as 2018.

Descending devices are mandatory on any vessel fishing for, or possessing, bottomfish (groundfish), including flatfish species, or Pacific halibut in the ocean.

What's new?

During the seasonal depth restriction, angling for groundfish will be allowed out to the 40-fathom line (rather than the 30-fathom line) AND the restriction begins one month later, on May 1 (rather than April 1).

In the offshore longleader fishery, retention of two additional species will be allowed — blue rockfish and deacon rockfish.